Driffield Raft Race and Family Fun Day this weekend

Once again, the Rotary Club of Driffield and Driffield & District Lions have joined forces to host a Raft Race and Family Fun Day on the Bank Holiday Weekend.

The fun will get underway on the morning of Saturday 24th August on Riverhead with a whole host of activities and entertainment for all.

From 10am, inside Mortimer’s Warehouse there will be a singer, ukulele band, magic show and more.

Outside, around 30 stalls will be available selling a variety of products and items, including Mr Moo’s Ice Cream Parlour. Other attractions include a climbing wall, face painting and alpacas.

The main attraction is the raft race which will see teams of up to four race 100m from the slipway at Mortimer’s Warehouse to the town lock gates on man-made rafts.

The raft race comes under the Rotary Club of Driffield’s jurisdiction and the club’s secretary Alan Hardy told the Wolds Weekly it will be great fun once more.

“Last year, we had 10 rafts entered, but we’re looking like we will comfortably surpass that this year,” he said.

“Defending champions Florida Marquees have entered a team, so they’ll be desperate not to be beaten this year.

“The format is head-to-head heats, with the winners progressing to round two and the losers dropping into the plate competition.

“In 2018, there was fantastic support of around 1,000 people and if we can replicate that, it will be amazing.

“The raft race starts slightly later this year at 1pm and we’re expecting the racing to continue until around 5pm.”

The overall winning team of the raft race will receive £200, whilst the plate winner will receive £50.

Entry is £10 per person, whilst two rafts are available to hire for £20 each.
Graham Long, president of Driffield & District Lions Club, is hoping for good weather once again.

“We’re hoping for a fine, sunny day which always helps to boost numbers,” he said.

“Our first event was a great success and we’re looking to build on the back of that.

“As president, I was very proud of what we achieved last year and hopefully we can do the same again.

“There’s 28 stalls booked in already, including exciting new ones like Mr Moo’s Ice Cream Parlour.

“Entertainment in Mortimer’s Warehouse begins at 10am with local singer Edwina Hayes, followed by Driffield Ukulele Band and a family magic show, who will both perform twice.

“The final act will be the Wetwang Warblers who will perform at 3pm.

“As well as being a fundraising day for both us and the Rotary, it is about encouraging people to use the facilities of the canal.

“We’d also like to thank Driffield Navigation Amenities Association for its assistance in hosting the event.”

All proceeds raised from the Raft Race and Family Fun Day will be split between the Rotary Club of Driffield and Driffield & District Lions to be used to support their individual causes

Driffield & District Lions

Driffield & District Lions hosts regular car boots throughout summer, as well as tea dances all year round at Driffield Community Centre.

The club also assists with the handicraft section at Driffield Show and the annual Driffield Trip Day, in addition to hydrotherapy classes, organised by the Lions, held at Kings Mill School.

Graham added: “Last year, the Lions started the ‘Message in a Bottle’ scheme which encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details on a standard form in the fridge.

“This is aimed at vulnerable people and can provide a vital lifeline to anyone who finds themselves in an emergency situation.

“We also have our fleet of 24 mobility scooters, all of which are currently out on loan.

“Throughout the year, we receive requests of help from various people and do our best to support each one in any way we can.”

Driffield & District Lions Club meets on the third Thursday of each month in Market House on Exchange Street in Driffield, commencing at 7:30pm. The next meeting is on Thursday 19th September.

New members are always welcome and if you think you can spare a little time, would like to do work to help people in your local community and would like to know more about what the Lions do, contact Lion President Graham Long on 01377 253176.

Rotary Club of Driffield – supporting local

The Rotary’s other main fundraiser comes in the shape of the annual Santa’s Sleigh Run through Driffield each December, which will this year run from Tuesday 3rd to Wednesday 11th December.
It also supports various local causes including assistance at Driffield Show and funding transport for Driffield Agricultural Society’s Food & Farming Day.
The Rotary hands out £500 bursaries each year to one medical, musical/performing arts and agricultural student.
Alan added: “Some of the funds raised from the Raft Race and Family Fun Day will help boost the finances for our Higher Education medical and musical bursaries, which we hand out to one student from Driffield School & Sixth Form each year.
“We recently handed over £700 for sponsorship of Driffield JFC Ladies’ new kit.
“Throughout the year, we normally raise around £12,000 which we put back into Driffield.”

The Rotary Club of Driffield meets every other Tuesday at Driffield Golf Club at 6:15pm for a 6:45pm start, where prospective new members are always welcome and more details can be found at www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=193

All donations received go into the charities fund which allows them to meet requests from local individuals or groups as well as national charities and international crisis response.

The Rotary Club also supports additional HE bursaries in agriculture and carpentry as well as funding sixth form students from Driffield School & Sixth Form to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).

Members have also worked very closely with the Rotary International in its efforts to eradicate polio and other projects.

For more information contact secretary Alan Hardy on 01377 240418 or president Phil Smith on 01377 253369.